The Saugeen Shores Winterhawks are once again atop the WOAA Sr. Hockey League's standings after a win in Ripley on Saturday night.
Curtis Johnston lead the way with two points as the Winterhawks defeated the Ripley Wolves 5-1 for their seventh straight win.
Brent MacDermid opened the scoring early, putting his eighth goal of the season past Mitch Campbell just 1:07 into the game to make it 1-0 Winterhawks.
Jeff Flagler continued a strong start to his senior hockey career, as the rookie Winterhawks netminder held off the Wolves powerplay early in the 1st period.
Andy Mitchell extended the lead at 18:41, with Andy Fracz and Nick Quaid assisting to make it 2-0 Winterhawks after the 1st period.
Ripley would get one back on the powerplay, as Brett Catto scored at 11:53 of the 2nd period to make it a 2-1 game.
The Winterhawks responded at 18:29 of the 2nd, scoring just one second after a powerplay had ended, with Alex Kuntz netting his second of the season from Bryan Kazarian and Johnston.
Flagler held off a pressing Wolves attack in the 3rd period, including shutting the door on two powerplay chances for Ripley.
Johnston stole the puck behind the Ripley net with the goalie pulled to put an insurance marker on the board with 49 seconds left to make it 4-1 Winterhawks.
James McHaig would close out the scoring with 10 seconds left in the game, putting the exclamation mark on this one, with assists to Adam Little and Chris King.
Flagler made 33 saves for the win, improving his league-best goals against average to a microscopic 1.50 on the season.
The win improves the Winterhawks to 7-1-0 on the season, putting them one point ahead of the Clinton Radars (6-1-1) for first place in the league.
A big showdown looms as the Winterhawks hit the road next Friday, November 18, as they travel to Clinton to face the defending champion Radars for an 8:30 p.m. start.
